Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-23
Three C0lOred Sporting Men,
1x-Gov. PfNCHBACK. JOHN c. ALRxAND1R, AND COL
ROBERT HARLAN.

Three C0lOrcd Sporting Men,
Rx-eov. PfSoHBAcK. JOHN c. ALRxANDsR, AND COL
ROBERT HARLAN.
From the Chicago Tribune.
AT the Palmer House one evening this week two
gentlemen were playing billiards.
The spectators were numerous, not frum any ex-
cellence Of play, however, and this fact appealed
to the curiosity OF man, who asked q bystander,
"Why is there such interest taken in that billiard
game9'
reply: "Why. that man with the long tailed coat,
Iuil beard, and bronzed complexion is no other
than he who, at one time just at the close OF the
ana, became one OF the most widely talked about
OF o.. Americans. You know that time when VIM.
hDSg AID aewn
watch the playing OF ex-Gov. PinchDack. He saw
before him a most gentlemanly IKE man, possibly
slightly turned, but with an erect form and COM
handing presence The face denoted anability.
an active temperament and smooth oily disposi-
Hon. HIS lnfOrmer continued: "The ex-governor
Is In Chicago in attendance at the races. Last
year ne was On the box as the bookmakers say:
mans means that he was the proprietor ana
power with the oolored people, 1t was thought
that through the darkeys, SO nOticeably con-
Pinchback was supplied with the very best Of In
formation. His record, however, has always been
s saaG OF man who put his money up on the
ani1pafn
Another colored man VINO is always to be seen at
oh lie q ii
best horse OF which Ia Malaria. Alexander was
watching Pinchback's game OF billiards, and the
man VINO was furnishing the Information said:
Alexander is remarkable man. The keeper OF
gaming house In the town where he lives, there
mas never been time when he did not stand bet
Hr WIN nlS lellOw-townsmen than any man deal
Ing faro. The patronage Of his establishment Is
largely that OF the mOneyed class Like all other
sporting men, he has had his ups and downs but for
haS has.n fhaus
top The spring before Garfields nomination
Alexander went up to the town OF London-3O miles
Of dollars against faro, his original stake being
but two-dOllar note. Thence he attended the
small running and trotting meetings in that sec
ti0n, and pressing his luck, went to the Louisville
races with several thousand dollars. BY fall he
mad accumulated something like $40, 900. A strong
republican, he could see nothing in the Garfield
Hancock race but Garfield first, and plungng on
the event, the generals success made or him quite
rich man. Since then he has been more conserv-
ative In his ventures and all who know him hope
10 see MIN always prosper. No matter what the
nature OF the transaction-cards, horses bust
nesS-there never was fairer man TO deal with
than John Alexander.
"But whereas with Gov. Pinchback he divides
the honors at race meeting there is now COL
ored man In Chicago upon whom all people OF his
AFFAIRS State and national yields power not in
1erior perhaps to that aScribed to Fred Douglass.
rms is Col. Robert Harlan, of Cincinnati. Always
lover OF the horse. Bob's face has been seen for
years upon the various race courses. Ever with
money at his command. he has been the JOY of the
poolseiier and the bookmaker. Readiness to wager
The established odds is his characteristic, and
when the horses are running he, from his COM
handing height being able TO note their exact po-
Sltlons, always has proposition 20 make. 1.-TWO
TO Volante wins changing rapidly to 3 to L.
then 90 to l. There is a record to the effect
that he once lost a bet Of 100 to 1 by
his horse falling midway the stretch. But
While to Pinchback and Alexander racing
Is scheme to further financial interest, with HAIR
Ian II Is pastime sought rather than gain. There
are few men OF such liOn-like features, bones,
anu visible energy. The high cheek bones are
rather or the Indian than the African race, and
just such chin it would be hard TO lind outside
OF kennel OF lighting dogs. Strength OF charac-
Ter OF the highest order is marked in every furrOw
OF the face. An old man now, and wearing specta-
cles, still every movement partakes or the ex-
tremeSt vigOr Bob is a cyclone in Cincinnati
politics, and even now holds the office Of state
senator-a gooi republican, OF course. He Was
one or the most enthusiastic DartiSanS of Garfield,
and unpon Inauguration day at Washington, where
during the review before the White House lac stood
1Of hours near the Presidents stand, he was the
most delighted or SDNctatOrS